UVA Men’s Basketball’s Long Way Back to Orange Uniforms

On By Littum

While University of Virginia men’s basketball fans always trumpeted the success of the program’s all-time winningest coach, sections of the fanbase often resented the lack of a specific school color in the Cavaliers’ uniforms during the Tony Bennett era.

Equipment manager Matt Althoff heard their cries on social media every time he posted one photo of the team’s jerseys before a road trip.

“That’s usually the first response,” Althoff said. “‘Get rid of those blues. Where’s the orange? When will TB bring out the orange? Are we ever going to bring them back?'”

A narrative had been formed: Bennett must despise orange.

On Wednesday night, for their 11th game in the post-Bennett era, the Wahoos, now under interim head coach Ron Sanchez, will wear orange uniforms for the first time in 14 years when they host the University of Memphis at John Paul Jones Arena.

We know what you’re thinking, but trust us – the timing is actually a coincidence.

Bennett actually approved these uniforms – another near-backlash Ralph Sampson and Wally Walker eras of Virginia basketball — long before he retired in October.

Last month, the Hoos debuted an alternate white uniform – with a vintage “Cavaliers” script across the chest – for their 67-41 win over Holy Cross. That look, plus the orange kit, were both part of a long-term project involving Bennett, Althoff, Virginia Athletics administrators and the university’s communications office, which handles institutional marketing and licensing issues.

Bennett really never liked orange. Typical of a superstitious coach, Bennett was just scarred by the Cavaliers’ most recent performance in the paint, a 67-49 loss at home to Duke University on Feb. 28, 2010, during his first season at UVA.

“That game just left a bad taste in his mouth,” Althoff said, “and he didn’t want to go back there.”

Despite subtle nudges about orange from his players, assistant coaches and other staff members — plus fans who would occasionally pep him about it during his radio call-in show — Bennett stayed true to his word. Since March 1, 2010, his Cavaliers have stuck to a traditional white uniform at home and a navy uniform on the road.

A third (still non-orange) option almost appeared. An alternate Navy jersey, which replaced “Virginia” across the chest with a large V-Sabre logo, was to be worn for the Hoos’ game at Wake Forest University on Jan. 26, 2016, but Bennett opted out at the last minute. against it. UVA famously won that game, thanks to a furious rally and buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Darius Thompson.

“I always thought if we had worn them (and the game went exactly the way it did),” Althoff said, “there would have been a mystique about that uniform and he would have always wanted to wear them.”

But unfortunately, the Virginia men’s basketball team remained one of the few programs at the Grounds without at least a third uniform option.

Now it has four.

Althoff said Bennett was sold on the new uniforms, especially the orange set, and paid tribute to the program’s rich history.

“That was a big part of the pressure, for sure,” Althoff said. “Like, ‘Coach, it’s not just something we want to do. It’s something the university and everybody wants to get behind. We hear the fans. We hear what the people want — they want orange.’

After some back and forth on design – Althoff said they were tinkering with a patriotic jersey to debut for the season opener on Veteran’s Day against Campbell University – the two new uniforms were finally approved and then ordered in the summer.

Tyler Jones, UVA’s associate athletic director for external operations, recalls Bennett approaching him at ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hardie Football Operations Center and confirms his commitment.

“I think he was most excited about the orange and what it meant and its reverence for the past,” Jones said. “And I think he got a sense of the narrative and was excited to reveal it a little bit.

“He pulled me aside and said, ‘I’m all for the orange alternate’.”